Tube testing device



Feb. 5, 1957 w, L, GOVAN 2,780,092

TUBE TESTING DEVICE Feb. 5, 1957 w. l.. GovAN TUBE TESTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1953 l INVENTOR. um I. 60m/ Ilrllllrl AGENT United States Patent O TUBE TESTING DEVICE William L. Govan, Port Washington, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Baldwin-Lma-Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 12, 1953, Serial No. 391,476

8 Claims. (Cl. 73-49.5)

This invention relates to hydraulic tube testing machines for testing tubes, pipes, or like, under internal hydraulic pressure, in particular under high pressures in the range from about 3000 to 10,000 p. s. i.

In machines of the above type, tubes are subjected to circumferential tensile or hoop stresses approaching the neighborhood of the yield point to test their resistance to bursting pressure while also examining their tluid tightness. At the same time, however, longitudinal compressive loads `are often applied to the tubes in conventional tube testing machines, which may cause failure of tubes of relatively small diameter or wall thickness due to buckling. This is true particularly in the case of testing machines having sealing means which engage the tubes on their outer diameter so that the test pressure acts on the ends of the tube, resulting in an axial compressive load which is equal to the test pressure times the annular area at the tube end.

Frequently tubes are tested with a standard coupling tightly screwed onto one end thereof, one of the seals engaging the outer diameter of the coupling while the other seal engages the outer diameter of the tube at the other end thereof. To take up the thrust exerted by the test pressure against the free front face of the coupling and to prevent axial shifting of the coupling and tube due to such thrust, the coupling is anchored in the machine by a locking device which engages the rear face of the coupling. Here again the tube is subjected to .buckling stresses proportional to the annular area at the end of the tube. Furthermore, the bearing area of the face of the coupling engaging the locking device is sometimes not suicient to withstand the axial thrust exerted against the coupling by the test pressure.

Tubes have further been tested with a standard coupling tightly. screwed onto each of the ends, but in the conventional arrangement this results in a high buckling load due to the large area against which the test pressure acts at the ends of the tube. l

vIf tubes are tested without couplings thereon, buckling stresses can be avoided by using internalseals or packings engaging the bore of the tube so that no tluid pressure will act on the ends of the tube. However, the inner wall of the tube is relatively rough so that this arrangement increases wear of the sealing material. When testing tubes with standard couplingsthereon, it is not possible to use an internal seal in the coupling because the latter is threaded internally at its ends.

'Rapid wear of sealing material has also been encountered with seals engaging the outer periphery of the tube since the outer surface, though smoother than the inner wall, is still not satisfactory for scaling purposes.

Various attempts have been made to avoid such drawbacks, and in particular to control longitudinal stresses in the tube during testing, but the previous arrangements do not satisfy all requirements. For example, one threaded end of the tube has been anchored in the machine and the other threaded end completely closed by a cap or thelke in a manner such that the tube can fil ICC

elongate freely in its axial direction. This will eliminate buckling stresses, but an axial tensile load is produced equal to the test pressure times the area corresponding to the inside diameter of the pipe. Such relatively high axial load is not always desirable and in certain cases may exceed the amount the tube can safely withstand, especially at the threads.

In another arrangement, packing glands have vbeen connected to the ends of the tube by means of hydraulic cylinders and gripping elements to produce tensile stresses in the tube. -In a further arrangement, both ends of the tube have been provided with couplings and anchored in the machine, and cylinders and pistons have been used to producerlongitudinal compression, longitudinal tension, or a neutral longitudinal stress condition in the tube. These arrangements are relatively complicated a-nd require machines of special construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide simple land inexpensive means for controlling or eliminating longitudinal stresses in a tube to be tested under internal hydraulic pressure.

'It is another object of the invention to provide improved testing means which can easily be applied to a tube testing machine of conventional construction.

'It is a further object of the invention to provide simple means for varying the bearing pressure encountered at the coupling locking device of a tube testing machine.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide simple means for reducing the wear of seals in tube testing machines.

The invention includes the use of adaptor means which can easily be applied to the tube to be tested, the testing machine being provided with sealing means dimensioned to cooperate with said adaptor means.

:Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

IIn the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing one form of the invention.

IFig. 2 is a sectional view on a reduced scale generally taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l, but showing certain parts in a different position.

Figs. 3 to 6 are fragmentary sectional views illustrating various shapes of adaptors according to the invention.

iFig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

lFig. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. l and 2 illustrate the application of the invention to a machine which is provided with a coupling locking device for testing a tube With a coupling tightly screwed onto one of the threaded ends thereof.

A test head assembly 20 serves to support tube 21 at the end carrying standard coupling 22. Body 23 of the test 'head is mounted on a support 24 by screws (not shown) and carries a packing holder 25 held in place by a nut 26 engaging threads 28 of body 23. A packing retainer or nut 30 is screwed into packing holder 25 to engage a back-up ring 36 which bears against a packing ring or seal 38. By changing the packing holder 25, as well as a spacer element 39, the head can easily be adapted to various pipe sizes to be tested.

The coupling locking device which is shown in'closed position in Fig. 1 and in open position in Fig. 2 comprises a plate or crosshead 40 attached to support 24 by means of studs 42 and nuts 44. Guided on crosshead 40 by means of gibs 45 are a pair of slides 46, 48 (Fig. 2) carrying the two halves 50, 52 of a split locking sleeve. The latter is arranged to engage rear face 54 of the standard coupling 22 tightly screwed onto threaded -3 end 56 of tube 21. By vchanging parts 50,)52, the locking device may readily be adapted to various sizes of tubes to be tested.

Asecondftest'head assembly 60 Awhichvfserves to-sup- :portthe other-endfof -tube 21 is -axially aligned with -and -generallysimilar-to test-head 20 butis not provided with a 'coupling loclang=device and has-a apaclting ring or 'seal 62 which -diters -in size from seal138. In an -arrangement-Ohconventional type, the Sealfof tesUhe'ad 60 would engage the outer diameter of tube 21 fresulting inla certain l`buckling stress -n-'the tube and a certain bearing .pressure -at -the locking ldevice, Ifrequently exceeding the :allowable-limits.

According-to the finvention, lan Iadaptor generally indicafedat -70 is^tightly^screwed on'to'threaded 'end 71 of `tube 21 so'that :the -adapter 'is 'movable into and 4out of 'the'-te`sting machine rtogether with the 'tube Aas 'a Iunit. adaptor1comprises 'af-,tubular mounting -portion 7 2 whichisthreaded=iriternally, and Va tubular sealing 'portion 74 which has an external cylindrical, apreferably machined-crepolished'saling -surface 76. TSeal '62 is dimehsined sortliat 'its :internal diameter eis 'substantially .equal to the-outer diameter of surface 76, and fthe seal encloses the cylindrical sealing"surfa :e. Cliamfer 77 -atithe end "ofthefdapto'r serves tofacilitateintroduetion lo1l1e 1adaptor into thestest'head. I-The 'adaptor' 70'is preferablyslonger thanstandard 'coupliug'22 since this-has been ifound ltmos'tzzsuiizable.L A :passage 78 eittends through 'the entire aadaptoreto allow freefpassa'ge of'uid therethrough.

'-Mountlng'I-portion 172 'which'accomitodtes the s'ame size 'of'theadaas fcouplingfn, will :normally uhavefan outer diameter similar to or exceeding that fof fcopling d2. f'l-'hediame'rwfiadaptorisurfac'e 7'6'wlch'is smaller ansosmaur han 'thef'outerdiameter ofthe coupling, 'is

When starting a testing c'ycle, the cplinglocking vde- 'w'ice fis in fopen ipositicn'so thatv'ar'ts 50, -52 I#allow free passage of coupling 22 therebetween. The ftest heads 220,:60 which 'are "-'rriveable v relative -t'o 'each other by conventional netis (not shownywilhbe positioned -at a distance such that a tube may easily'be-placedin the space between 'the heads. Thereafter, the heads 'fare lr'r1:-ved"towa'rds "e'a'ch 'other 'so that as shownvl in Fig. 1 seal 38 engages coupling 22 while seal 62 engages s'ealing "surface 76 i adptor'70fsp'ace'r 39 serving as 4ais'top to prevent the coupling and '-tbe from being pushed too A 4far in'to test head' 20. The coupling locking-'device is then moved from the open position shwn'inlFigfZ into'the closed position according 'to'Fig. 'l lin which parts '50,552 of the locking sleeve abut each other :andfengage rear face 54 of the coupling.

Opening 82 in body '23 servesto ill'the'tubewith'water and thereafter to introduce high pressure water into the vtube in conventional manner. It be :clear "that 'the interior of the 'tube communicates with the -sealingjareas 'a't`seals '38 and 62 throughthe 1bore "of coupling 22 and 'through passage 78 of the adaptorfrespectively.

The 'thrust exerted by high pressure waterjinthe axial di'ection of ithe tube is 'proportional t'o'the annular a'rea '38 a'rid L62, that is, between tlreouter diameter "f coupling '2 2 'and thejdiameter'ofsurface 76 fthe'adaptor. istaken up by the coupling locking aeviw'nieh 'transmise fof the nim-manna position whereas"the'the1 "`n`a 71.iS'free toxve axially to 'conditions in theftube. After testin'gfthe locking devicewill be'opened and the test heads nvedaway fromeach other so that the tube is reaeebraing Fisjlg the gimeter'f sealing-surface f ueaanfrsemwe maenner. @fue ffl. with arrangement, innen-ping mnngaevr will take up thel thrust of high pressure water not only against annular face 84 of coupling 22 but also against annular face 86 of tube 21. At the other end of the machine, water pressure against annular face 8S of the tube and against the corresponding opposite area of adaptor 70 will bear upon these parts in opposite directions, resulting in stress `i`n the`threaded end 7i of tube 21 without affecting foth'er 'portions of the tube. Apart from its threaded ends, therefore, the tube will be free of "longitudinal st tesssothat the conditions arcstn'ilar te those obtained with eonventional .internal diameter seals. 'In `this espect,it can 'be said'that with the aid of the adaptorthelinter'nal seal -is converted intoan outer seal of the same diameter. As compared with the conventional arrangement, 'this "is `c3f`g"r`eat advantage since the conventional internal seal engages the inner diameter of the tube which is relatively rough and causes extreme'wear of the sealin'g material. Further, :an .outer seal 'is sometimesprferable to keep the internal fuid fp'assage =as largel aszpossible.

By using mditiedadaptors .having smaller or larger 4diameterseattheisealingsurface and mounting the same -o'n thev -free end' 71=ofthe=tube, various desired'stress con- -ditions'can b`e obtained. -Forex'ample, Fig. 3 shows an -ada'ptbrfin'which tlie-diame'ter of sealing surface 90 'is -equahto the'uter dimeterof=tube21, a seal 92 of corresponding 'size-'being provided. `In this case, only the 'willlbe taken `'up Bythecoupling locking device-and the Atube willr-be subjectedtoiai-longitudinal compressive load Ycorresponding -to sthe fthrust 'a'gainst '--the -ends of the ltube. ffhisarrangcment -will'be'nsed when Vthe resulting buck- -ling stress rin che ft'ube-Lis mot. daug'erousfand fit' isf-delsited 'to decrease 'ithe -lb'earing pressure :"at thecoupling locking device as compared *with the bearing-pressure fcaused '.-byuhe eadaptor'flt) .of-'Fig l. The stress condi- 'ftions ali'enow'the=sameasfif seal 92 would engage Vthe -ohter ldiameter 'of 'the ttribe `but contact -between seal 92 fa'nd .theottterperipheryofthe"tubefis avoided. Although fthe inutside Tof `the :tube 2 is generally somewhat .smoo`ther `th'n'its innerwall, litislby'far'notias suitable for sealing :purposes as surface 90 '-of ftheladaptor which can easily -be 'machined 'or polished. Therefore, this arrangement will'reduce wear oflsealingfm'aterial as compared withian external seal-engaging the 4tube.

if fa further increase Ein compressive load on the tube is 'allowableandla further decrease in bearing lo'ad at the coupling locking 'device is required, the diameter of the sealing surface fof the adaptor may have a size intermediate the outer diameter of tube 21 and the outer4 diameter of'standard'coupli'ng 22, `lwithout reaching the latter diametera's it'will 4'not'be-"n'ec'essa'ry to-relieve tlielaearing pressure entirely. 'I-`lierefore,"'the diameter of the sealing surfaeelthe adaptorfwillfr'emin smaller than thel outer diameter of coupling 22 and-'thus smaller than-theoufer diameter -of tlie Imttin'g po'rtion of the adaptor which is 3ntarally 'tll'eas't *equal to the -outer diameter of "the coupling.

which the diameters of sealing surface 110 and seal 112 are smaller than the internal diameter of the tube. The tensile load is proportional to the annular area lying between the internal diameter of tube 21 and the diameter of sealing surface 110. By selecting a suitable diameter of surface 110, the desired tensile stress may be obtained. The thrust at the coupling locking device will be proportional to the annular area lying between the internal diameters of seals 38 (Fig. l) and 112.

In the embodiments described hereinbefore, a standard coupling is screwed permanently onto one end of the tube before testing, and when a coupling is required, this is normally preferable to using a special device which must be replaced by such coupling after the test. In certain cases, however, it is of advantage to use adaptors on both ends of the tube, in particular if it is desired to reduce the buckling stress in the tube as well as the bearing pressure at the locking device.

Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the last-mentioned type, in which the fixed end 56 of tube 21 is provided with an adaptor generally indicated at 120. The latter has a tubular mounting portion 122 of increased diameter so that the enlarged face 124 thereof will be subjected to a reduced unit bearing pressure at the locking device as compared with Fig. l. Split sleeve 125 is of a length such as to accommodate mounting portion 122 between locking device and test head. The diameter of surface 126 of tubular sealing portion 128 is equal to the outer diameter of standard coupling 22 (Fig. l) so that seal 38 of test head 20 will remain unchanged. This arrangement is suitable particularly when the other end of the tube is provided with an adaptor of the shape shown in Fig. 5 for testing tube 21 under longitudinal tension since the relatively large area of face 124 will assist in taking up the added bearing pressure caused by the tensile load.

Whereas in #all the foregoing embodiments the two seals adjacent the tube ends differ in diameter resulting in axial thrust exerted on the tube and taken up by a locking device, the invention may also be applied to certain ararngements in which the two seals are of the same diameter. For example, Fig. 7 shows the testing of a tube having identical adaptors generally indicated at 130 and tightly screwed onto its ends. At the same time, this embodiment illustrates the application of the invention to an upset tube 131. A decrease in or elimination of the compressive stress is of particular importance in this case because of the increased load which would normally result from the large areas at the upset tube ends.

Each of the adaptors 130 comprises a tubular mounting portion 132 and a tubular sealing portion 134 of smaller diameter. Surface 136 of each sealing portion 134 cooperates with a seal 138 mounted in a test head assembly 140. The diameter of each sealing surface 136 is equal to the internal diameter of tube 131 so that the tube will be free of longitudinal stresses, except at the threads. By varying the sealing diameter, various stress conditions may be obtained as described hereinbefore. lf the sealing diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the tube, longitudinal tension will be obtained in this form of the invention without using a locking device.

A further modication of the invention embodying the use of internal seals is shown in Fig. 8, according to which an adaptor generally indicated at 150 is tightly screwed onto each end of tube 151. Each adaptor comprises a tubular mounting portion 152 and a tubular sealing portion 154 which may be of equal outer diameter. Portion 154 is provided with an internal sealing surface 156 which is preferably machined or polished. Test head assembly 160 includes a plug 162 carrying a cover 164 which is removably mounted by means of screws 166. Packing ring 168 and back-up ring 170 are held in place on plug 162 by cover 164.

The diam'eter of each sealing surface 156 is equal to the internal diameter of tube 151 so that the tube will be free of longitudinal stress, except at the threads. By modifying the diameter of sealing surfaces 156, various stress conditions may be obtained. For example, it may be desirable to increase the sealing diameter somewhat with a view to obtaining a larger passage for pressure water while admitting a limited buckling stress in the tube. Since both internal seals cooperate with the adaptors, contact between the relatively rough internal wall of the tube and the packing material is entirely eliminated so that undue wear of packings will be avoided.

A further advantage of the use of adaptors in internal sealing arrangements is due to the fact that in standard tubes, only the outer diameter is constant for a certain tube size whereas the internal diameter is determined in accordance with the desired wall thickness. Therefore, a large number of plugs and packings of different sizes has been required heretofore to take care of various internal diameters so that internal sealing arrangements have often been impractical. When providing adaptors in accordance with the invention, the diameter of the internal seals may be kept constant for a certain tube size as far as permitted by stress conditions in the tube. Thus, the use of adaptors will result in a substantial reduction in the number of required sizes of internal seals.`

As mentioned hereinbefore, changes in length of the tube may occur in response to stress conditions during testing. To eliminate corresponding movements at the seals under pressure and avoid resulting high wear ot' the packing material, compensating devices have been arranged as described, for example, in copending application Serial No. 158,098, filed April 26, 1950, now Patent No. 2,671,339. Since the adaptor according to the invention may be provided with a properly prepared, smooth sealing surface, slight relative motion between seal and adaptor during testing will not be detrimental so that a compensating device of the above type may not be required. However, such compensating device may still be incorporated in the machine if desired to avoid any relative sliding motion between sealing surface and packing material under high pressure. n

It will be'clear that the adaptor according to the invention can easily be used in existing tube testing machines since it will only be necessary to provide sealing means of corresponding diameter. By selecting an adaptor of suitable dimensions, the diameter of the sealing means can be determined so as to obtain desired stress conditions in the tube to be tested. It will be apparent that buckling stress in the tube can be varied from zero to the test pressure times the full annular area at the tube ends, or larger areas when testing the tube with a coupling thereon, for example. Tensile stress in the tube can be varied from zero to desired values within practical limits. Bearing load at locking devices of the type describe can be varied from values approaching zero to the maximum resulting from maximum tensile load on the tube.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary and the invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes and modications may be eected therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Wherever the term tube is used in the description and appended claims, it is to be understood as including pipes and similar tubular articles.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulic tube testing machine in which tluid under pressure is supplied to the interior of a tube to be tested and which includes head means cooperating with the ends of said tube, said ends being threaded, a device comprising adaptor means on at least one end of said 'tubeja'nd 'movable into and out 'f the 'testing machine :together 'with 'said 'tube 'as 'a unit, "s'aid adaptor means including a threaded tubular 'mounting portion 'tightly 'screwed 'onto said one end 'of 'the tube and 'a tubular vsealing portion having a cylindrical sealing surface 'of 'a diametersmaller than the outerdamet'erof saidtubular mounting portion, 'and sealing means `carried -by "said 'head'ineans and 'spaced 'from said tubeso'as 'to'e'ngage 'to the internal diameter of the tub'e to be tested.

3. A device as speciiied vin claim '1, in -which 'said sealing surface is positioned o'nl 'the outside of "said adaptor means and extends through said sealing'means.

4. A device 'as specified in claim l, 'in which said sealing surface is positioned 'in the interior of said adaptor means andencloses said'sealing means.

5. 'In a hydraulic tu'be testing machine in'which iuid under pressure'is'supplied to the interiorof a'tube to'be tested, the 'ends of said tube being threaded, a coupling being tightly screwed onto one of said ends, 'th'e'combination comprising a first head cooperating 'with'said one end voi the tube, `coupling locking means on the first head for preventing axialrnove'nient `o`f'the coupling and tube relative to said 'lie'ad duri'ngtesting, 'sealing means on the first 'head engaging "said coupling, a second head cooperating with the 'other end "of the tube, "an adaptor including 'a threaded tubular mounting 'portion tightly 'screwed onto Said other end of the Ttube and further including a tubular sealing portion lextending for'm said mounting portion and having a cylindrical sealing surface of a diameter smaller 'tha'nthe 'outer diameter of said tubular mounting'p'ortn, "and'sealing means carried 'by 'said second 'head 'and spaced 'from 'said tubeso as 'to engage the cylindricals'e'lin'g srfa'ce of said adaptor and seal`the adaptorand said othere'nd of the tube connected thereto.

6. In a hydraulic 'tube testing vmachine in which fluid under pressure is supplied tothe interior of a tube to be tested, said tube having threaded en'dsfthe combination comprising a iirst head cooperating with one of the ends 'of lsaid tube, atirst adaptor having a 'threaded tubular mounting portion tightly screwed onto said one end of "the tuhe,1ocking means on said tirst'head lfor engaging said first adaptor and 'preventing axial movement of lthe adaptorandtuberlativeto'saidhead'durng testing, a 'second head "cooperating with 'the 'otherend of the tube, a 'second'adaptorlhaving'athreaded'tubular mounting portion tightly screwed onto said `other end of fthe tube, v'each =df said 'adaptors having 'a tubular sealing vportion extending from vits mounting portion 'and 'provided with 'a cylindrical sealing `surface 'of la 'diameter "smallertha'n the outer diameterof 's'aidtbular'mounting portion, and sealing means carriedby said rst and 'second 'heads andspacedfrom said 'tube' so asto engage 'the `cylindrical sealing surfaces of 'said adaptors 'and 'seal' the adaptors and the ends of the tube 'connected thereto.

7. In a hydraulictubetesting machine in which uid 'under pressure issuppliedito thelinterior'of'atube to 'be tested, said tube having "threaded ends, the 'combination comprsingaipair of"hea'ds Tcoop'erating withthe ends of s'aid tub'e,"a of adaptors fm'ovable into'and'out of the 'testing 'machinetogether 'with l`said 'tube as 'a`11nit, each of 'said `adaptors 'including "a :threaded vvtubular mounting portion 'tightly 'screwed onto o'n'e 'end of 'said'tub'e and 'further inclu'di'ng atubula'r Sse'alng lpoton having a cylindrical v sealing surface Loi? 'a diameter 'smaller than the 'outer .diameter of'the associated tubnlar :mounting jportin,"and :sealing meanskp'ositioned on each of said heads "and 'spaeedfffom saidrtube jso ias 5to 'engage 'the .'clindricah'sealing surfaces f said adaptors and seal -vthe'aidaptors andthe endsof the tube connected thereto.

8. The `c`oriibination as 'specified in claim'?, in which the 'sealing surfaces f 'said "adaptorsl havev equal diameters.

References Cited .in "the .ileof 'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS '75,2123 "Ryan 4 Dee. .9, `1902 2,155,602 Kerners Apr. '25, 1939 2,445,876 Fullerton `Ju1y:27, l1948 :2,633,739 Potts et'al. Apr. 7, 1953 2,655,l82 'Hayes "OCL '13, 1953 2,664,271 Arutunoi Dec. l29, 1953 2671,339 Krause etal. Mar. `9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 319,889 British Oct. 3, 1929 

